The government (of Kazakhstan) will not fall (due to the ongoing fuel price hike protests), but we want mutual trust and dialog rather than conflict. - Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

Spontaneous rallies were used as a pretext for provoking civil unrest. Religious radicals, criminals, outright thugs, looters and petty hooligans filled the streets as if on cue. Socio-economic and socio-political demands were put on the back burner, they were forgotten. Next followed the hot phase, and armed fighters, who were biding their time, took over. The main goal of these events became clear – to undermine the constitutional system, destroy governance institutions and seize power. It is obvious now that these armed activities were coordinated from a single centre, and the carefully planned operation entered its decisive phase.

The month of Ramadan carries enduring moral values: humanity, compassion, mercy.

I intend to act as tough as possible ... Together we will overcome this black period in the history of Kazakhstan.